For Mark Baker, the president and CIO (chief idea originator) for The Vermont Flannel Co., delays in deliveries of flannel blankets, pajamas, shirts, hoodies and scarves to customers this holiday season was just one more blow in a year packed with punches.

First, his homegrown manufacturing operations had to shut down for four months, which was hard to recover from. Then, his five Vermont retail stores were hit by the drop in tourism.

Thankfully, online sales made up some of the difference.

"But we had numerous delivery problems the last couple of months with UPS, with FedEx and with USPS," Baker said. "We used all three depending on where our flannel blankets were going and how many people were buying."